Vietnam & Laos Heritage Discovery – 13 Days Private Tour Led by Women
Day 1: Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and meet your dedicated female guide before transferring by private vehicle to your 4-star hotel. Enjoy a welcome lunch before relaxing or exploring Ben Thanh Market, Nguyen Hue Walking Street and the lively central streets. Discover local cafés and Southern Vietnamese culture at your own pace. In the evening, enjoy an authentic dinner featuring regional specialties. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels
After breakfast, travel to the historic Cu Chi Tunnels and explore underground passageways, command centers and living areas used during the Vietnam War. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch. Visit the War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office to discover the city’s history and French colonial architecture. Enjoy Southern Vietnamese cuisine for dinner. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 3: Mekong Delta – Ben Tre Experience
Travel to Ben Tre, known for its coconut gardens and peaceful waterways. Cruise along the Mekong Delta canals and visit coconut workshops, traditional brick kilns and local family businesses. Enjoy Southern folk music before riding a tuk-tuk through coconut groves and countryside lanes. Continue by sampan beneath the water coconut palms before a regional Mekong lunch. Return to Ho Chi Minh City for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang – Hoi An Ancient Town
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Da Nang before continuing to Hoi An. Explore Hoi An Ancient Town, including the Japanese Covered Bridge, historic merchant houses, Chinese Assembly Halls and traditional temples. Discover the art of Vietnamese lantern making at a local artisan workshop. Walk along the Thu Bon River and lantern-lined streets before enjoying a Central Vietnamese dinner. Overnight in Hoi An.
Day 5: Hoi An – Hai Van Pass – Hue
Enjoy breakfast and free time in Hoi An before traveling toward Hue via the spectacular Hai Van Pass. Stop at Marble Mountains and visit the Cham Sculpture Museum in Da Nang. Continue to Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village to discover generations-old craftsmanship. Arrive in Hue and check into your hotel. Enjoy a refined royal-style Hue dinner. Overnight in Hue.
Day 6: Imperial Hue – Flight to Hanoi
Cruise along the Perfume River by traditional dragon boat to Thien Mu Pagoda. Continue to Hue Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City, once the center of Nguyen Dynasty power. After lunch, visit the royal tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh or Emperor Tu Duc. Transfer to Hue Airport for your flight to Hanoi and meet your Hanoi guide on arrival. Enjoy dinner before overnighting in Hanoi.
Day 7: Explore the Cultural Heart of Hanoi
Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House and One Pillar Pagoda. Continue to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to discover the cultures of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. After lunch, explore the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s historic first university. Enjoy a cyclo ride through Hanoi Old Quarter before watching a traditional Water Puppet Show. Finish with an authentic Hanoi dinner. Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 8: Hanoi – Halong Bay Luxury Cruise
Depart Hanoi and travel through the Red River Delta toward Halong Bay. Board your premium overnight cruise and sail among the dramatic limestone islands and emerald waters. Enjoy a gourmet lunch followed by kayaking, cave exploration, swimming or relaxation on the sundeck. Watch the sunset across the bay before enjoying a fresh seafood dinner. Optional evening activities include squid fishing and stargazing. Overnight aboard the luxury cruise.
Day 9: Halong Bay – Return to Hanoi
Begin with Tai Chi on the cruise sundeck as the sun rises over Halong Bay. Enjoy breakfast while sailing through the spectacular limestone formations before returning to the harbor. Travel back to Hanoi by private vehicle with lunch along the way. Spend the afternoon exploring Hanoi’s cafés, boutiques and historic streets. Enjoy a farewell Vietnamese dinner before overnighting in Hanoi.
Day 10: Hanoi – Luang Prabang, Laos
Enjoy breakfast before transferring to Noi Bai International Airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. Meet your local guide and transfer to your 4-star hotel upon arrival. After lunch, explore Luang Prabang’s UNESCO-listed center, visiting traditional temples, French colonial buildings and the Mekong riverside. Browse the local artisan and night market areas. Enjoy a traditional Lao welcome dinner. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 11: Pak Ou Caves & Mekong River Cruise
Optionally observe the traditional morning alms-giving ceremony before breakfast. Visit Wat Sene and Wat Xieng Thong, two of Luang Prabang’s most important temples. Board a scenic Mekong River boat toward the sacred Pak Ou Caves, filled with thousands of Buddha images. Stop at Ban Xang Hai and nearby artisan villages to discover traditional Lao crafts and local life. Return to Luang Prabang for dinner. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 12: Elephant Sanctuary – Kuang Si Waterfall
Visit Wat Visoun, Wat Aham and Wat Mai before exploring the lively Phosi Market. Continue to an ethical elephant sanctuary and learn about elephant care and responsible conservation while enjoying the surrounding forest. After lunch, visit nearby ethnic minority villages and discover local traditions. Continue to the turquoise pools and cascades of Kuang Si Waterfall before climbing Mount Phousi for sunset views. Browse Luang Prabang Night Market before a farewell Lao dinner. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Day 13: Luang Prabang – Departure
Visit the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, to discover Laos’ royal history and cultural heritage. Continue to the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre and learn about the country’s diverse ethnic communities and traditional crafts. Enjoy a final Lao lunch before your private transfer to Luang Prabang International Airport. Depending on your departure schedule, dinner can be arranged at a local restaurant or prepared as a takeaway meal. Your 13-day Vietnam and Laos journey concludes in Luang Prabang.